LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: Why McElwain's Departure Will Help the Tide

The news came early Monday evening that Alabama Offensive Coordinator Jim McElwain was hired as Colorado State's head football coach.

Colorado State's hiring of the Tide's fourth year coordinator comes after McElwain, over the last week, did everything but accept the head coaching jobs at Memphis and Fresno State.

However, McElwain will call plays for the Crimson Tide's offense as it looks to avenge the heart breaking loss to No. 1 LSU in early November, but this time in the AllState BCS National Championship.

The announcement of McElwain's departure will be a relief to a few berserk Alabama fans, who have accused him of being too "conservative" in his play calling, but it is alarming to most fans as it comes less than a month before The Game. (Sorry Stanford-Cal fans).

Whether you liked McElwain's offensive strategies or not, you can't argue with the 47-6 record Alabama has had since hiring the former Fresno State OC.

When the most valid complaint against a coach is that he handed the ball off to his two Heisman contending running backs a few too many times, you can only view McElwain's tenure at Alabama as a successful one.

The biggest worry for Alabama fans concerning McElwain coaching in the championship game spurs from the fear that he will fail to put in the time developing the Tide's game plan, instead recruiting for a Colorado State team that presently has only two commitments.

But if anything this should excite Bama fans.

What better chance does Jim McElwain have to show off his play-calling ability to potential Colorado State recruits than he does in the BCS National Championship game?

A dominant offensive showcase by Alabama would no doubt catch the attention of at least a few undecided prospects watching from home.

But even if McElwain decides to use up all his fireworks on New Year's, you won't be able to count on one hand how many times Brent Musburger tells viewers of McElwain's departure for Colorado State.

This will be publicity that the school would have missed out on if McElwain decided against coaching in the rematch with the Tigers.

McElwain's opportunity to showcase his offense, combined with Nick Saban's refusal to lose to his old squad three times in a row, should lead Alabama fans to believe that they will see the best offensive play calling of the year.

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